LEWISTON — Museum L-A is getting closer to reaching its goal of owning the former Camden Yarns Mill property, which sits on the downtown riverfront next to the Continental Mill.

Work is under way to structurally shore up the building and prepare it for renovation. In addition, the final phase of environmental clean-up is 90 percent complete toward a green and environmentally-safe site.

The museum has an opportunity to enhance donations with a 49 percent grant match for operations. The grant ends on Friday, Dec. 31. “This is a great challenge and an investment opportunity. Every dollar donated becomes $1.49 because of this hard-won grant,” said Rachel Desgrosseilliers, Museum L-A’s executive director.

Desgrosseilliers said the museum is approximately $35,000 away from owning the property.

The museum has contracted Smith Reuter Lull Architects of Lewiston to do a structural evaluation of the Beech Street building as well as demolition and stabilization review and work at the site. The plan is to preserve as much of the original structure as possible.

Clean-up of a small oil spill at the exterior of the building is being made possible through a project grant fund received through a city of Lewiston EPA Assistance Grant.

Museum L-A continues to exhibit and maintain offices in Bates Mill 1 at 35 Canal St. It is open from Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, call 333-3881, e-mail [email protected] or visit online at www.museumla.org.